“Putting the pieces together”
By James & Yvonne Barnickel
John 17:4, 20-21 “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do… “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that the world may believe that you have sent me…
Roughly 20 years ago, Yvonne and I had the privilege of doing urban children’s ministry in the projects of Asbury Park, New Jersey. During one particular Bible lesson we were discussing “fruits of the spirit “along with many other biblical character traits contained within the four gospels. Each trait was printed on the back of a flannel puzzle piece. After discussion of each fruit or trait, we placed them flipped over onto a puzzle board on display. As the pieces came together, the children became increasingly excited because they started to realize that all of these good, should we say perfect, qualities added up to one particular person. They were very proud to recognize him to be Jesus! At this time we continued to explain to them the “gospel of grace” available through this same Jesus.
The daily “ Gospel of John “ readings had a similar effect on us. Reading the gospel and being daily taught by our teaching and ruling elders along with our house scholars-in-residence, brought the “pieces” together for us once again.
What made the deepest impression on us from both our daily readings and Pastor Matt’s Palm Sunday sermon was Jesus’ (High Priestly) prayer in John 17 – particularly both his prayer for himself and his prayer for the church, especially versus 20 through 21. After Jesus, our second Adam, lived his entire life, humanly speaking, perfectly dependent on his heavenly Father, he then offers one of his final prayers just before his crucifixion. He accomplished the work that the father gave him to do v.4. He not only prays for the church (present), but also for “those who will believe in me through their word.” And that includes us! Yvonne and I have been greatly comforted and blessed through this truth, that Jesus, our high priest, continuously prays for us and for all his people. We knew this truth through past readings of John’s gospel, but our comfort has reached an entirely new level. As a result, we find both our private prayers (our “Praying Life” prayers) and our corporate prayers (our “Praying Church” prayers) filled with greater faith, confidence, and purpose. We delight that Jesus is praying from above and the Holy Spirit is praying from within. It is also helping us experience deeper fellowship and greater love for our brothers and sisters in our local body; which is also an answer to one of Christ prayers…“That they may be perfectly one, so that the world may know…” v.23
Through Jesus‘s character and work of redemption, we see all of the “pieces” of his life come completely and perfectly together. He now continues to shepherd us from above finding and restoring all our “pieces” until we are one day perfected and fully redeemed. “We shall be like him.”
Jesus: Perfect & Complete “Piece Of Work”
Us: Imperfect & Often Lost “Pieces In Progress”